Chapter Sixteen
Your New Home
Disclaimer: How many times must I tell you all that I do not own InuYasha?
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Kagome stood in the room she was staying in and looked out at the moon shining down on the gardens. She wanted so badly to stay here, with him but she now had responsibilities in her own time. She had two jobs, an apartment that meant rent and she had other bills to pay. Plus, Kasei, Takara and Katsu all had school on Monday.
Sighing a little, Kagome put a hand up to the glass and leaned her forehead on it, sighing again. Her heart felt like it was being cut into two. She loved Sesshomaru so much and she desperately wanted to stay here with him but she couldn't and she knew it.
You never belonged in this time.
I know … but I don't want to go back to the modern time …I want to stay with Sesshomaru.
You can't, you know that.
But … why? I love him and he loves me.
But what about your bills that will come on Monday? Your job? Your own responsibilities?
Kagome sighed again, her legs beginning to feel weak as she slid down in front of the window, tears forming in her eyes. She hit the floor with frustration and hurt, feeling torn between the two worlds. She never had to pick before so why did she have to pick now?
Oh, right, because she had a life in the modern time, a much more important one than when she was a teenager. Everything seems so easy in her mind; she'd come back to the feudal era and stay with Sesshomaru with their children. Simple. Easy. Poof.
But … what of the modern era? She couldn't just not show up for work one day, could she?
Sesshomaru was outside of her door the entire time, listening to hear quiet sobs and heavy sighs. More than a few times he had to restrain himself from barging in and demand to know whether she was planning on leaving him again or not.
Just because he was a powerful taiyoukai, didn't mean that he couldn't have feelings and the feelings he felt for Kagome were the strongest set of feelings he'd ever felt in his entire life. When Kagome never came back, he hardly slept and when no one was around late at night, he would cry …
Yes, the demon lord did have emotions and the emotions he was feeling then tore at him every day. The pain of loosing Kagome once had nearly consumed him but the pain of loosing her twice would be completely unbearable.
Opening the door slowly, Kagome didn't move. She had sensed him long before he even decided to open the door.
Sesshomaru stepped through it and closed it lightly, watching Kagome rise and stand with her back to him before slowly turning to face him. There was so much pain in her chocolate brown eyes that made him want to brandish his sword and slay all of her fears and then wrap her up in his protective arms and never let her go.
Kagome stood, amber eyes locking with chocolate brown ones, watching all the conflicting emotions play out in his eyes. She had learned, long ago how to read them, even if he didn't want them to be read. She could always tell if there was something troubling him and how to soothe him and work out all the kinks and knots. This time, however, she didn't know what to do.
She loves him, oh, how she loves him. She wanted him to take her to their bed and promise to never leave … ever.
Slowly, Sesshomaru walked to her. Everything was on the line right now. His heart, his life, his soul, his very being rested on her decision on whether to stay or leave him.
Kagome looked to him, never taking her eyes off his. She couldn't leave … she just couldn't. She would die if she left again especially now after eleven years of living without him, crying every night, wondering what he was doing, if he was still alive, even. She had lived eleven years of her life in almost complete misery … almost. The only shred of hope that had kept the smile on her face, kept her from breaking down the many, many times she had wanted to so badly over those eleven years, were the children that they had made together.
"Kagome … " Sesshomaru's voice brought her back in an instant and then she couldn't take it anymore. Launching herself at him, she wrapped her arms around his waist, tears streaming down her face.
"Sesshomaru, I can't leave again. I can't. I just can't. I don't want to, either. I want to stay; I want to stay with you. I was so lonely without you … every day, I just wanted to give up and die but I couldn't. I had to be strong for them, for Kasei, Takara and Katsu."
Relief washed over the demon lord in giant waves and he put his arms around his mate. "Kagome, I know how you felt … I never want to experience that, ever again. Never." Gently, he wiped away her tears and placed a tender, loving kiss on her lips that was returned in an instant. Then he knew that he could never live without her.
"I can't live without you, Kagome." Kagome smiled softly at him. The tall, handsome dog demon that had captured her heart and let her unlock everything that was kept inside for all those years. He was the one that let her erase all his loneliness and some of hers, too.
"I can't either, Sesshomaru. I won't, I refuse to. I love you."
"I love you, too, so much." With that, he picked her up and entered their bedroom, closing the door to share a night of extreme tenderness and love with just one another.
Kasei, Takara and Katsu were hiding in a room right across from their mother's and with their superior hearing, heard every last word. Right after their father had taken their mother into their bedroom, they knew that it would be rare that they would ever see the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
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Kasei groaned a little bit as sunlight poured into his new room the next morning. He had slept incredibly well that night, having his own room for the first time in his entire life. It felt good, having a room of his own, he could pretty much do anything he pleased.
He pulled the covers up over his head, blocking out the morning sun that lit up his room of red. The room wasn't all red, though. There was some deep green and purple that matched the bold blue of his sheets and other bedding. He had already decorated it with various things from his old room and he had brought about two dozen batteries and most of his battery powered electronics, including his alarm clock that currently read seven in the morning.
They all got to choose their new rooms when they arrived at the grand mostly marble castle. Kasei had chosen this one because of how it reflected on his name and personality. Plus, he really liked the colors and the view from his window that lead to his own private porch. It also gave him a good view of the Western Lands, which Kasei had been told he would be inheriting.
A knock on the door roused him from his sleepy thoughts and he just decided to ignore it, which only made it more persistent. Finally, he threw his covers from over his head and growled.
"What the hell do you want at this early in the morning?" He snapped at whoever was outside his door. Slowly, he watched it open and a man walked in with his head bowed in respect. Kasei blinked a little, looking at him.
"Stop bowing and tell me why you're here already."
"Yes, master Kasei." Kasei blinked again at the title. 'Master'? Him? Was his stupid father dead already? A small part of him celebrated but another, slightly larger part doubted it though sorrow filled him at the thought.
"I have been assigned to aid you in whatever way you wish and to help you be prepared for the morning meal with your parents and siblings, Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Kagome, Mistress Takara and Master Katsu." Kasei sighed a little, feeling really uncomfortable with all the formalities.
"Just call me Kasei, alright and stop bowing already!" The man nodded and stood straighter.
Kasei sighed a little and got up, wearing a pair of boxer shorts. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he yawned, bearing his fangs, and stretched.
"Alright so what do I have to do?" The man looked a little shocked at the question but answered it anyways,
"Normally, bathing would come first then getting dressed would be second." Kasei nodded a little.
"All right, a shower it is then. Where's the bathroom?" His little servant or whatever they were called looked confused, Kasei noticed. Then it hit him and he mentally slapped himself.
Right! They didn't have showers here. "Well, you do have your personal bathing area to your right."
Kasei nodded. "Well then, I'm going to go have my little … bath." He started off towards his personal springs.
"What about your clothes for the morning?" Kasei shrugged and waved a hand.
"Just pick something out or something like that. If that's not in your job description then don't worry about it, I'll pick something out myself." With that, Kasei opened the door and closed it.
"This should be interesting." He said to himself and stripped down to nothing and slid into the hot water that felt good, lapping at his skin. He silently wondered if people tanned in this era …
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Kasei stepped out of the bath, he walked into his room with nothing but a towel hung loosely around his waist, not expecting anyone to be there.
At first, when he came into his room, his eyes instantly saw a very awesome looking orange and white kimono. He went over and ran a hand over it, careful not to rip the obviously expensive material. That was when a little squeak caught his attention.
Looking up, he saw a very beautiful girl with dark blue eyes and long brown hair that was done up in a high ponytail. She wore a white and pink kimono and a deep blush on her cheeks. Normally, Kasei would just shrug it off but this time he couldn't.
He blushed deeply as well and for a long time, silence hung in the air before he couldn't stand it anymore and finally found his voice.
"Um … hi." The girl's eyes looked to him and she smiled and bowed a little.
"Sorry to … intrude but your father said that it would be alright if I came to introduce myself." Kasei nodded a little but she continued on.
"But, I realize now that it was an inappropriate time so I'll be going now." Something like panic stirred in him and he quickly moved to grab her wrist with the hand that was holding his towel. He then noticed that she had pointy ears like his fathers. Did that mean she was a full demon, too?
He was brought back from his thoughts when he felt a breeze and looked down, realizing that the towel had now pooled around his feet. The girl noticed, too.
With a deep blush, she murmured a good bye and scurried out of the room, closing the door after her. Kasei, still blushing, stood looking at the door, her scent still lingering in his nose. Man, she smelt good and … she was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen and he was in high school now!
With a bit of a sigh, he picked up the towel and threw on some underwear and got dressed, looking at his reflection in full-length mirror. He turned to each side and did a few poses, smirking at his mental note of how good he looked.
"Man, you're almost worse than your father and your uncle put together." A male voice told him. Kasei blushed instantly and looked around, spotting a tall fox with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe.
"And you are?" Kasei said in a cool tone, trying to hide his embarrassment. Shippo laughed a little, walking in.
"Your older brother." He stated in an amused tone. He watched the young pup's expression go from nothing to utter shock in less than a second.
"And yes, I am a youkai. A fox youkai to be exact." Kasei blinked a little, trying to clear his mind.
"I have an older brother?" Shippo nodded.
"And an older sister." Kasei looked over the fox, noting that he was sporting an expensive looking kimono as well though his more masculine frame filled it out slightly better than his.
"Why do you have a rock in your ear?" Kasei blinked.
"Huh?"
"Your ear, boy. Why do you have a rock in it?" Kasei looked at him and then realized that he was talking about his earring!
"It's the fashion from where I'm from. Not that you'd know anything about it." Shippo raised a brow and smirked.
"I know a lot more about you than you think I do. I also know exactly what happened when you and Takara were only five." Kasei blinked a little. What this guy? Some kind of magician?
"Anyways, I'm Shippo, your older brother. You'll get to meet Rin at breakfast which you might want to hurry up for." Kasei nodded a little, putting a pair of shoes on and then looking up to Shippo's face again.
"How are you related to me? You're a fox." Shippo smirked again.
"So I am. Your mother adopted me a long time ago, years and years before you were even conceived."
"Oh. Well I guess that explains a lot." Shippo nodded.
"Let's go, pup." Kasei bristled a little.
"I'm not a pup, I'm sixteen." Shippo let out a laugh as they walked down the hall.
"In human years, you're almost an adult but in youkai years, you are still a child." Kasei glared at his back the rest of the way until they came to the biggest room he'd ever seen in his entire life.
There was a high ceiling that arched and held many chandeliers. There were four sets of grand doors; two of the four leading to outside and all four of them were opened. Hanging crystals sent rainbows spinning throughout the room and right in the middle of it was a long, dark pure oak dining table that held many chairs, some of which were occupied though most weren't.
The tone of the room was familiar and it had a very welcoming feel to it as it was painted a light yellow, almost a creamy white that matched the windows. There were paintings, a few of which looked like young children did them. One of the childish looking paintings was hanging beside him and he looked it over and then the name at the bottom of the painting caught his eye; Kasei.
He blinked a little. He did this painting? That was his name so he must have been the child artist behind this. That proved it then, he did live here … eleven years ago this was his home. Memories came flying back to him as he looked around, he could almost hear the laughter of young children as they played their games …
Before he could fully slip into the entrance of memory lane, a familiar scent caught his nose. He had just smelt this lovely smell just this morning. Turning, he saw the girl from before standing behind him, a blush still on her cheeks.
She smiled at him and he couldn't help but smile back She smelled so nice and looked so pretty and she was a little on the shy side but that made her all the more interesting. She smelled like a wolf but it was a good smell, like apple blossoms and cinnamon and the sun that shone on her highlighted her natural beauty and Kasei smiled more.
"Good morning, Prince Kasei." She said softly, her voice like music to his ears.
"Call me Kasei." He said softly with a smile. "I don't think I caught your name."
A larger and slightly bolder smile came to her beautiful lips as she smiled on him. Lips that he wanted to touch, that he wanted to taste. Kasei stopped his thoughts right then. What in the world? He'd just met this girl and already he wanted to kiss her? That was very unusual for him, actually, when he thought about it, he'd never wanted to kiss a girl the first time he'd met her. What made this one so special? He honestly didn't have any idea … not at the moment at least.
"My name is Ai." She said softly, looking into his chocolate brown eyes.
Ai sighed inwardly. He was so beautiful … though that term was such a feminine term that she'd never actually say it to describe him but what else could she use? He just seemed so … perfect, she guessed. No one had made her heart pound and her cheeks to warm this much before.
His eyes were mesmerizing and his hair was so long and silky looking, she just wanted to run her fingers through it and he smelled so bold and so masculine yet there was something so sweet and tender about him.
Both Kasei and Ai's eyes were brought up to Sesshomaru who cleared his throat.
Kasei quickly noticed that they were the only ones still standing and he blushed again, taking a seat next to Takara who nudged him with one of her infamous knowing smiles. God he hated how she could always know things before him.
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Breakfast had gone without a hitch and now, Sesshomaru was standing on his balcony of his and Kagome's rooms, watching everything fold out. Kasei and Ai, one of Kouga's daughters, had seem to take quite a shine to each other, which was a good thing.
Takara and Rin seem to be getting along well and Shippo had taken his youngest brother, Katsu, under his wing. Sesshomaru smiled a little as the watched Kasei and Ai walk the gardens, talking. He couldn't make out what they were saying but Kasei had apparently said something funny because the next thing he heard was laughter coming from her.
His son, Sesshomaru mused, would fit perfectly into this world, since he was originally from here though he had spent eleven years growing up without him.
Another regretful pang hit him as his eyes rested on his youngest son, Katsu. Katsu had to grow up without even knowing he had a father at all …
Kagome stood in the doorway, watching him with a smile. She was finally home and finally with him.
Sesshomaru picked up her scent instantly and smiled, turning to face her. Kagome smiled at him and walked over, looking at what he was looking at with a bigger smile.
"I'm so glad we're all back together again …"
Sesshomaru nodded a little, putting his arms around her. Kagome sighed a little, leaning against him and they just stood like that for what seemed like hours.
"Sesshomaru …"
"Hmm?" Kagome smiled, the sun dancing across her face with its comforting warmth.
"Lets let happily ever after start now." Sesshomaru smiled a little, nodding.
"Yes."
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Kasei and Ai were walking the gardens slowly and talking and telling a few jokes. Kasei told Ai a couple he knew from his time and she thought that they were hilarious. He would smile as her beautiful laugh drifted to his ears.
Slowly, Ai reached over and took his hand, blushing a little. Kasei looked at their hands and then to her face and slowly smiled, closing his hand over hers and just watching her as she talked.
God, she's so beautiful. I've never seen someone so naturally beautiful before! All the girls in my time are obsessing with make up and perfume and all that kind of stuff. But not her, not Ai. Mainly because she probably doesn't have make up or anything like that in this time but still.
Ai looked at him and blushed a little deeper, looking away. Then she looked up and blushed again as she took her hand from his, standing a little away from him and bowing a little.
"Father." Kasei blinked and his eyes rested on a tall man who had hair like Ai's, along in a high ponytail. His eyes were blue and he wasn't wearing any kind of clothes that he'd ever seen before, even in his currently short time in this era. He looked like he was wearing … fur and it also looked like he had a tail. He couldn't call him ugly that was for sure.
"Ai, I thought I told you to return home at least two days ago." Ai's mood plummeted at the thought of leaving Kasei, whom she had already gotten deeply attached to.
"Forgive me, Father." The man looked her over and then his eyes shifted to Kasei and what looked like realization came over his face.
"Well, I see the reason for your delay. It seems you've developed a taste for dog boys, also." Kasei growled a little and Ai nudged him a little, shaking her head slightly. He watched as the man's attention shifted from him back to his daughter.
"Come, Ai. We must take our leave." Ai nodded a little and set Kasei a sad good-bye smile as she followed him.
Kasei gaped a little. He couldn't believe this! She was just going to walk away from him? Not in this lifetime.
With a little growl, Kasei grabbed Ai's wrist and she stopped and looked to him. Kouga noticed this also and he walked back to them.
"Unhand my daughter." Kasei growled again.
"No. She doesn't have to go with you. She's old enough to make her own choices." Kouga growled at Kasei's defiance. Kasei only growled back.
Kouga got dangerously close to Kasei and fear began pounding into the boy but he refused to let it show. He didn't exactly know what demons did when you angered them and he didn't exactly have a burning desire to find out but he really wanted Ai to stay.
"The boy has a point." A female voice came and Kasei looked up to stare into a pair of green eyes. Kouga looked to her and sighed.
"I told you to stay at the den, Ayame." This earned him a glare, promising much punishment later. Kasei also didn't fail to notice that Kouga backed instantly and even was a little fearful.
Ai looked up and smiled a little at the woman who only smiled back and then gave her a hug, brushing her bangs out of her eyes.
"Ai, honey, you take as much time as you want, alright? I know you're in safe hands." Giving her daughter a hug, Ayame turned to Kouga.
"Let's go." Kouga nodded and followed his mate and Kasei held back a laugh. Finally, when he figured the demons were out of earshot, he laughed.
"Man, your mom has him whipped." Ai blinked a little, looking at him.
"'Whipped'?" Ai echoed, curious but clueless about the new term.
Kasei sweatdropped. "Yeah, whipped. It's a slang from my time. It pretty much means that he'll do whatever she says."
"Oh." Ai nodded in understanding. "Yes, you're probably right." Kasei grinned at her and then turned to see Shippo with his younger brother, Katsu.
Shippo grinned a little. "So you stood up to the infamous Kouga." Kasei blinked a little at him.
"Who?" Shippo rolled his eyes a little and opened his mouth to explain but was cut off.
"Kouga! He's the wolf demon who rules over the Northern Lands. He used to be only be the prince but when he defeated the Lord, he got the title and all the lands. He is mated to Ayame, who is also the leader of a wolf pack but most of hers was wiped out long ago by some disease."
Ai, Kasei and Shippo all turned to Katsu who blinked a little and blushed.
"What? We learnt it in school, okay!" Ai blinked a little.
"What is this 'school' you speak of?" Katsu grinned, happy to share his knowledge.
"It's a BIG building with LOTS of people! There are lots of adults but it's mostly kids and you learn things like math and history and other stuff like that! It's where a lot of kids and adults spend most of their days, Monday to Friday, too. Though sometimes we kids don't have to go to school on the weekdays because of these things called pro-d days. Only teachers have to go to school then. Everyone gets Saturday and Sunday off, though."
Ai was listening to Katsu with great interest and Kasei just sweatdropped a little.
"Make tracks, runt!" He ordered and Katsu scurried off. Shippo looked to him and then burst out laughing. Sometimes, he wasn't sure whether Kasei was Sesshomaru or InuYasha's child!
Kasei sighed and grabbed Ai and led her away to a pond where there was a bench that the sunlight was warming. He sat down, rubbing his temples. Ai probably thought that he was a loser for sure now.
"Kasei." Kasei's ears twitched and he looked up at her. Ai blushed, looking at her hands.
"You were … very brave just now … with my father. If it were anyone else … they would have just backed down but you never even thought of backing down." Ai looked to him and he blushed, looking away for a minute but looking back.
"It's no big deal. I'm used to standing up to guys that are stronger than me." Ai smiled at him.
"Well, I think that you're very brave." Kasei's breath hitched a little but he gazed into her eyes and they slowly began moving closer …
"I hope I'm not interrupting something." Sesshomaru's voice instantly made them jump apart, identical blushes on their cheeks as they bore holes in the ground with their eyes.
Sesshomaru smirked a little bit but hid it when he began speaking.
"Ai, you are welcome to stay here as long as you wish but for now, Kasei, come with me." Kasei nodded a little, standing up and following the great demon lord. All he could think about was how they were getting so close to each other. He almost kissed her!
Kasei, being lost in thought, didn't notice that his father had stopped and nearly ran smack into his back but caught himself just in time.
"I am going to show you something, Kasei." Kasei nodded a little and then felt himself being lifted off the ground. Looking down, his eyes widened. They were already several feet off the ground and they just kept climbing and … was he standing on a cloud?
Soon, most of the Western Lands were easily viewable and Sesshomaru stood tall and proud.
"Kasei, everything you see here will be your own one day. For now, this is your new home."
Kasei blinked a little.
This is my new home …… … … … … … …… … … … … … …… … … … … … …… … … … … … …… … … … … … …… … … … … … …
A/N: Well, I hope you liked it. I'm sorry for the last chapter being so short. Hopefully, this makes up for it. A few of my reviewers made a few good points that I haven't been able to respond to so I'm doing it now.
AijinDaiku – You raised a good few questions!
Why isn't the well working? Well, I honestly don't know yet ;
Why didn't the doctors or the nurses (from when Kasei got hit by the car) say anything about his fluffy ears? Again, I don't know … they just kind of … didn't. Don't ask, don't tell, ne?
k4g0me – Yes, I actually mean Tensaiga in chapter 15. I made a mistake. Thanks for pointing it out –Gives an extra cookie-
Oh … by the way everyone, if I don't update for a while it's because I am going to be doing a lot of babysitting plus I am most likely going to be starting a new job so I'll be busy with that BUT I will try and update as much as I can because I love you all and I personally hate it when writers take FOREVER to update.
I would also like to apologize for not updating yesterday! Gomen nasai! –Bows- Btw … if anyone who knows Japanese better than me spots something that I'm using incorrectly or spots a mistake period, PLEASE TELL ME AND I'LL CORRECT IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY!
THANKIES!
A HUGE BIG GIGANTIC THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY REVIEWERS! YOU ALL MEAN SO MUCH TO ME!